Willie Jones was a man I met when I lived in Baltimore
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I was a guard and he was doing time
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In the three long years he stayed there I got to know him well
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Willie Jones he was a friend of mine
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He used to say buddy you know where I'm going when they let me out of here
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Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there
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And he talked about the southland though he'd drifted from its shores
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I never seen a man who loved it more
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He talked about the whippoorwills in the Alabama night
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Honeysuckle vine and sugar cane
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Swimming holes and fishing poles and early morning frost
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And sleeping under a tin roof when it rained
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He talked about a country road and a cabin in the pines
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And a girl with wavy long chestnut brown hair
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He talked about the beauty of his Blue Ridge Mountain home
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And darn near made me think that I was there
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He used to say buddy you know where I'm going when they let me out of here
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Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there
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When a man ain't got no freedom the time sure passes slow
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Willie Jones had ten long years to go
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It's been almost a years now since that hot night in July
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Willie hit the guard and jumped the fence
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I had my rifle ready but I couldn't let it fly
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I shot over his head and we ain't seen him since
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Then last week the postman brought a letter to my door
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Marked No Return Address and No Reply
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It just said nobody north of Birmingham is gonna see this boy again
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But if you're ever down our way won't you please drop by
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He used to say buddy you know where I'm going when they let me out of here
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Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there
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And he talked about the southland though he'd drifted from its shores
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I never seen a man who loved it more
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Willie Jones
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| The Charlie Daniels Band |
